Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 20 & 21 [Enhanced]

On this CD:

1. Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor, K. 466
Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performed by St. Petersburg Conservatory Chamber Orchestra

2. Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major ("Elvira Madigan") K. 467
Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performed by St. Petersburg Festival Orchestra with Tamara Sanikidze

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No. 20 In D Minor: 1. Allegro
Piano Concerto No. 20 In D Minor: 2. Romance
Piano Concerto No. 20 In D Minor: 3. Allegro Assai
Concerto No. 21 In C, KV 467: 1. Allegro
Concerto No. 21 In C, KV 467: 2. Andante
Concerto No. 21 In C, KV 467: 3. Allegro Vivace Assai

Amazon.com essential recording

Mozart's greatest piano concertos bring together so many elements identified with his style that they offer an ideal introduction to their composer's uniqueness. This is especially the case with the well-loved pair Nos. 20 and 21, which were produced in one fertile outburst in 1785. Here you will find both the dramatic flair and the comic high spirits of Mozart's tragic and comic operas, the last symphonies' breadth and polyphonic ingenuity (especially in the lengthy first movement of No. 21), and the conversational intimacy of the chamber music. This recording is one of several collaborations between conductor Jeffrey Tate and Mitsuko Uchida. In the wake of such legendary interpreters as Clifford Curzon, the Japanese pianist established a reputation in the '80s as one of the finest contemporary Mozarteans for her combination of poetic sensitivity and thoughtful involvement. Uchida plays with characteristic poise and never settles for superficial prettiness of sound (notice, for example, the sense of suspense she brings to the extended trill left hovering shortly into the soloist's entrance in No. 21). The restless, tragic momentum of No. 20 glows with inner fire, while Uchida's singing grace of line conveys an almost vocal warmth. There is sympathetic balance of soloist against orchestra (which features superb contributions from the winds), as well as a sure grasp of Mozart's larger structural symmetries. As an alternative to the extremes of period-instrument orthodoxy and romantic excess, this disc belongs in the collection of any lover of Mozart. --Thomas May

Customer Reviews:

The best Concerto No.20 (K466) available.......2007-05-03

I've listened to interpretations from Brendel, Anda, Barenboim, Arrau, and countless others, and I have to say after careful considerations that this version with Uchida and Tate is simply the best. I've noticed that the others all take the 2nd movement too fast, whereas the true beauty is fully revealed when played slower, as it is done here.

Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 20 & 21.......2006-11-12

Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 20 & 21~ Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is a brilliant recording and Uchida does such a fine job playing the piano the Mozart himself would have been pleased. Jeffrey Tate also does a bang up job and one most give him praise for his fine work on this recording. Mozart's music is so accomplished and refined that only three other composers can even said to come close to his talent and skill (Beethoven, Bach and Wagner). Mozart has the ability to make his music sound very simple and easy to play but if one examines a score for a piece written by Mozart then one realizes the complexity and nuances that Mozart is able to put into his "simple" sounding music. This recording per se is a stroke of true brilliance and I definitely give it 5 out of 5 stars without any reservations whatsoever.

Wonderful!.......2004-05-29

Mozart was one of a kind! Truly beautiful piano work.

Yummy, some delicious moments.......2003-01-12

As the saying goes, "Mozart is Music" and Uchida is Mozart! On this recording, you have two of the most popular Mozart piano concertos in modern performance(that is, played on a very big grand piano--not a fortepiano as they would've been in Mozart's day).

Uchida is crisp and technically correct, though perhaps, as some other reviewers have noted,lacking the passion of other artists' recordings. In the familiar No. 21 ("Elvira Madigan") the cadenzas are Uchidas. In No. 20 the cadenzas are Beethovens--thrilling!

The recording sounds as if it was done in a marble hall of a very grand Chateau, although it was probably done in Waltham Town Hall, London, with some discrete manipulation of the sound. The result is rich and resonant.

I'd personally recommend this for a classical music enthusiast who wanted just one CD of Mozart concertos. But perhaps its even better as a slightly obscure recording to give to a friend who already has a CD by another pianist. It's worth it for the track 3 cadenza alone.

Genial.......2002-01-26

I'm okay with Samantha's comments about the conjuntion betwen orchestra and solo (Uchida). They are in occasions at different intensity or dinamic. Orchestra was a little short. I recommend so the Geza Anda's version of the 21 concerto (sublime).

Mozart: Piano Concertos nos. 271, 453, and 466 / Davies, Jarrett

Average customer rating:

Amazing, as always
FANTASTIC!
Breathtaking
Cool, clean Mozart

Mozart: Piano Concertos nos. 271, 453, and 466 / Davies, Jarrett

Manufacturer: Ecm Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Carnegie Hall Concert

ASIN: B00000K2WP
Release Date: 1999-10-05

Tracks:

Concerto For Piano And Orchestra No. 20 In D Minor K.466: Allegro
Concerto For Piano And Orchestra No. 20 In D Minor K.466: Romance
Concerto For Piano And Orchestra No. 20 In D Minor K.466: Allegro assai
Concerto For Piano And Orchestra No. 17 In G Major K.453: Allegro
Concerto For Piano And Orchestra No. 17 In G Major K.453: Andante
Concerto For Piano And Orchestra No. 17 In G Major K.453: Alegretto - Finale: Presto

Tracks:

Concerto For Piano And Orchestra No. 9 In E-flat Major K.271: Allegro
Concerto For Piano And Orchestra No. 9 In E-flat Major K.271: Andantino
Concerto For Piano And Orchestra No. 9 In E-flat Major K.271: Rondeau: Presto
Adagio And Fugue In C Minor K.546 For String Orchestra

Amazon.com

For many, Keith Jarrett is still best known for his jazz forays: extended yet gorgeous improvisations at the keyboard that literally hypnotize listeners (and helped fund ECM, still the artist's label of choice). So, it would be easy to expect Jarrett to deliver a seat-of-your-pants, highly improvised interpretation of these three Mozart piano concertos. You'd be wrong, however. Jarrett's performance on these works is deft and delicate. Meanwhile, Dennis Russell Davies and the Stuttgarter Kammerorchester can be heard loud and clear (and in fine form, it should be noted), never overpowered by the pianist; instead, a perfect balance is struck between orchestra and soloist. More than anything, what surfaces from this double-CD is Mozart's great music: the finale of No. 17 is delightful; throughout the D-minor concerto, we hear the role of the woodwinds in astounding detail. The added bonus of Mozart's solemn Adagio and Fugue in C Minor makes for a gorgeous, though slightly restrained, finale. Yes, Jarrett is the star here, but the real kudos go out to ECM, for capturing such a well-balanced, beautiful recording of these works. --Jason Verlinde

Customer Reviews:

Amazing, as always.......2004-07-24

Keith Jarrett is a tremendously impressive artist. He switches gears between jazz and classical, between solo and orchestral work, in a seemingly effortless manner. One would never assume that the pianist on this recording is a renowned jazzman, but so he is. This recording features some of my favorite Mozart concertos and it will NOT disappoint.

FANTASTIC!.......2002-06-29

I have finally found the Mozart piano concerto recordings I have been looking for. After trying out some of the most popular and best reviewed interpretations (Brendel, Uchida, etc.), I decided to take a chance on this one. What a pleasant surprise! Perfectly played by the soloist and orchestra, brilliantly recorded as well. Some of the older versions of Mozart's concertos are still my favorites (Casadesus, Serkin), but if you are looking for the best versions in modern sound, you can't go wrong with Keith Jarrett. He also recorded a previous cd, with concertos #21, 23 and 27. Although you can't find it in the U.S., it is available through mail order from Europe. I highly recommend that one as well. For those of you on a tight budget, Jeno Jando made an excellent recording of all the piano concertos in the late 80's on Naxos. At a budget price, it is a good introduction for those who haven't experience the joys of listening to W. A. Mozart.

Breathtaking.......2000-11-08

This recording is positively sublime. I believe W.A. Mozart would have been proud to hear Keith Jarrett play his compositions.The first time I heard it I almost wept. Truly brilliant! Highly, highly recommended.A feast for the ears.

Cool, clean Mozart.......2000-02-16

Jarrett's first Mozart album got me started in Mozart Piano Concerti. His clean, straight-forward style is refreshing and lets me go right to the music seemingly without interpretation. And yet, underneath I feel the intense drive of his solo albums, all that passion contained and focused.

Average customer rating:

This is a CD that you can listen to over and over and over a

Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 20 & 21

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000001GE8
Release Date: 1991-04-05

Tracks:

Concerto For Piano And Orchestra In D Minor, KV 466: 1. Allegro
Concerto For Piano And Orchestra In D Minor, KV 466: 2. Romance
Concerto For Piano And Orchestra In D Minor, KV 466: 3. Rondo (Allegro assai)
Concerto For Piano And Orchestra In C Major, KV 467: 1. Allegro
Concerto For Piano And Orchestra In C Major, KV 467: 2. Andante
Concerto For Piano And Orchestra In C Major, KV 467: 3. Allegro vivace assai

Amazon.com

Rudolf Serkin recorded this music to much greater effect on Sony. By the time he got around to these remakes, the octogenarian pianist was well past his best form, and he wasn't helped by Claudio Abbado's soft-focused accompaniments, nor by DG's overmiked digital sound. Of course, nothing this splendid keyboard artist undertook was actually bad, but you only have to listen to his own earlier performances to realize just how much less successful he is here. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

This is a CD that you can listen to over and over and over a.......1999-10-25

This has some of the best pieces from the popular movie "amadeus," and the rest of it also awesome.

Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 20 & 23; 2 Rondos

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Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 20 & 23; 2 Rondos

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Beatles 1

ASIN: B000ASAEI0
Release Date: 2005-11-08

Tracks:

I. Allegro
II. Romance
III. Rondo (Allegro Assai)
I. Allegro
II. Adagio
III. Allegro Assai
Allegretto Grazioso
Adagio
Allegro
Concert Rondo In A Major, K.386

Mozart: Concertos Nos. 20 & 24; Concert Rondo

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Great Mozart From Brendel and Marriner
MOZART's GREAT PIANO CONCERTOS

Mozart: Concertos Nos. 20 & 24; Concert Rondo

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 9 & 21
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Bach: Violin Concertos

ASIN: B0000040Z9
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No.20 In D Minor: Allegro
Piano Concerto No.20 In D Minor: Romance
Piano Concerto No.20 In D Minor: Rondo (Allegro assai)
Concert Rondo In D: Allegretto grazioso
Concert Rondo In D: Adagio
Concert Rondo In D: Allegro
Piano Concerto No.24 In C Minor: Allegro
Piano Concerto No.24 In C Minor: Larghetto
Piano Concerto No.24 In C Minor: Allegretto

Customer Reviews:

Great Mozart From Brendel and Marriner.......2002-12-23

It's unfortunate that this seems to be one of a handful of CDs still available from Brendel's 1970's and early 1980's traversal of most of Mozart's piano concerti, which he recorded with Sir Neville Marriner conducting the Academy of Saint Martin in the Fields chamber orchestra. The sound quality on this analogue recording is up to Philips's standards for the 1970's. Brendel's performances are splendid and so too are the orchestra's. Anyone interested in an excellent recording of these Mozart piano concerti will not be disappointed.

MOZART's GREAT PIANO CONCERTOS.......2000-11-19

While it is almost impossible to tell which pianist did the best recording of these two masterpieces-i personally prefer MITSUKO UCHIDA, perhaps because i first heard them with her-ALFRED BRENDEL who i think is the best authority on SCHUBERT(his complete cycle of sonatas are great)does also an excellent job ,and you can also go with him without worrying.This is the great MOZART reaching his full maturity as a composer of concertos.It's dark,it's moving and it really gets to you.If you don't like this you're dead.

Average customer rating:

What was Wolfgang doing at Indianapolis?
great modern interpretation

Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 18 & 20

Manufacturer: Nonesuch
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000005J4G
Release Date: 1996-10-15

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No. 18 In B-Flat Major, K. 456: I. Allegro Vivace
Piano Concerto No. 18 In B-Flat Major, K. 456: II. Andante poco sostenuto
Piano Concerto No. 18 In B-Flat Major, K. 456: III. Allegro vivace
Piano Concerto No. 20 In D Minor, K. 466: I. Allegro
Piano Concerto No. 20 In D Minor, K. 466: II. Romance
Piano Concerto No. 20 In D Minor, K. 466: III. Allegro Assai

Customer Reviews:

What was Wolfgang doing at Indianapolis?.......2006-10-08

Answer: about 200 mph, in the third movement of the D minor. At 6:52, Goode may have set a record for this track: he shaves almost a minute off Curzon's time, and beats even Bilson by over half a minute. The slow movement likewise is the fastest I know of, which costs it some of its depth, and sounds almost as staccato as if it were played on a pianoforte.
But if your fondness for lively Mozart extends to allowing an allegro assai to be played quasi prestissimo, you're going to love this disc. The D minor is energized not only by fast tempi but by pointed accents and impassioned playing. The unusually detailed CD notes explain that the D minor was composed around the time Mozart wrote Don Giovanni; evidently an opera buffa style was emulated here. Despite the fast pace, the players stay on top of the music, with a great deal of nuance and only a few, very slight lapses of precision (it is the clarity of this recording that tattles on them). Goode uses Beethoven's cadenza in the first movement; in the finale, he offers a terse, refreshing and brilliant cadenza of his own (none of the wallowing in the spotlight that characterizes too many self-composed cadenzas).
The Concerto #18 receives a less notable performance, straightforward and polished.

great modern interpretation.......2001-09-23

a wonderful performance. goode is excellent, especially on no. 20. the playing is strong, perhaps too strong for those who like the romantic approach.

Average customer rating:

Moravec's Romantic Vision Of Mozart
Spacious and Warm-Hearted Performances

Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 20 & 23

Manufacturer: Hanssler Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000009D79
Release Date: 1998-06-23

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No. 20, KV 466 D Minor: Allegro
Piano Concerto No. 20, KV 466 D Minor: Romance
Piano Concerto No. 20, KV 466 D Minor: Rondo (Allegro assai)
Piano Concerto No. 23, KV 488 A Major: Allegro
Piano Concerto No. 23, KV 488 A Major: Adagio
Piano Concerto No. 23, KV 488 A Major: Allegro assai

Amazon.com

These readings appear to be the beginning of a cycle, which should come as welcome news to all Mozarteans. Born in Prague in 1930, Ivan Moravec is a pianist of uncommon gifts and one of the most sympathetic interpreters of Mozart's music ever to sit at a keyboard. His accounts of these concertos, recorded in 1995 and 1997, blend strength and gentleness, spontaneity and calculation, the playful and the serious, in a unique way--stirring in the listener that feeling of elevation that is the hallmark of the very greatest Mozart performances. Marriner and the ASMF attain the same high level of excellence, and the sound is superb. --Ted Libbey

Customer Reviews:

Moravec's Romantic Vision Of Mozart.......2002-03-15

Without a doubt, Moravec is one of our finest pianists. Having heard him play a great recital program last year at Carnegie Hall which featured music by Debussy, Mozart and Janacek, I was eagerly looking forward to hearing this CD. Moravec gives a vibrant, Romantic interpretation of Mozart's 20th piano concerto that is the most stirring I've heard; it's certainly a far cry from Brendel's austere approach. As for the 23rd Piano Concerto, Moravec's playing conveys more of a Classical interpretation than Romantic, but it is still marked by much vibrant warmth. I don't have to emphasize Sir Neville Marriner's excellence as a fine interpreter of Mozart; both he and the Academy are in splendid form as accompanists. Hopefully this is part of an ongoing Mozart piano concerto cycle which Moravec will complete. The sound quality is splendid.

Spacious and Warm-Hearted Performances.......2000-06-13

Marriner's credentials as a distinguished Mozartean are well-known and need no elaboration here. Moravec too has been playing Mozart beautifully for many years. I have a "cold war" recording of his from the mid-'60's where Mozart's gorgeous K. 475 Fantasy is coupled with Piano Concerto no. 25. His appraoch to Mozart has always been romantic, carrying a rich and full-bodied sound, and this tradition continues here. No. 20 is, along with no. 24, Mozart's most anguished concerto, and Moravec and Marriner bring out its full emotional range in a manner that leaves Perahia and Uchida in the dust. Not since Barenoim's EMI recording have I been so moved by an interpretation of this work. No. 23 is taken more lightly and briskly, as it should be, but if you want to hear how effortlessly Mozart could mask complex heartbreak with deceptively simple lyricism, listen to this concerto's slow movement. It's unforgettable. Marriner and Moravec have also collaborated on no.'s 24 and 25, and I'd recommend that as highly as I do this recording. I was lucky enough to see Moravic perform Mozart in 1991, and he's a true artist. If you're new to these concertos, then wait no longer--a whole range of undiscovered delights await you. If you have a recording of these concertos you're happy with, give this a try too. I'm sure Moravec will bring forth new insights into these pieces you thought you knew so well.

Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 20, 23, 24, 26 & 27

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A treasured musical file!
Excellent playing, but piano too distant
Great recordings

Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 20, 23, 24, 26 & 27

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00005N56Y
Release Date: 2002-02-12

Customer Reviews:

A treasured musical file!.......2005-10-12

The whole story of the composers-conductors have not been written may be well considered unfinished if the name of Britten is not included. His approach in what Mozart concerns is a fact worthy of the best and sincere epithets. He added these Piano Concerts not only elegance, cram, noblesse but also aristocracy and refinement.

So when the imaginative melodic flight of Britten converges with the wisdom innocence of Sir Clifford Curzon -one of the few artists who "made sing" the piano- (Wilhelm Kempff was the genuine master in this field), the result is a true enraptured and inspired Mozart, because as the Great Genius, Mozart 's significance is major by what suggests instead by the expressed.

I should remark the special relevance of this CD because both works mean somehow, the alpha and omega of the best set of Concerts of Wolfgang Amadeus: the 20th is to my mind, the most complete and profound of all Mozart piano Concertos. It possesses humor, innocence, tragedy and redemption; all the mythic cycle expressed in thirty minutes.
"The brevity is the soul of the cleverness"

Absolutely recommended.

Excellent playing, but piano too distant.......2005-06-09

These are excellent perfomances, however, I had trouble listening to some this recording because the piano seemed so quiet and distant and was often overwhelmed by the orchestra's volume. I found myself straining to hear the quiet passages, but couldn't turn it up because the loud sections with full orchestra would be too loud. This was particularly the problem with the Britten-conducted performances, Nos. 20 and 27, less so on the rest.

I'll still try to listen to this cd, but I have other Mozart Piano Concerto performances by Alfred Brendel and Richard Goode that have better definition in the sound and a piano that doesn't get lost in the orchestra that I enjoy more.

Great recordings.......2002-05-27

Decca has wisely chosen Curzon's recordings of these Mozart concertos for reissue in their "Legends" series. Nos. 20 and 27 with Britten and the English Chamber Orchestra are absolutely classic, nos. 23 and 24 with Kertesz and the London Symphony hardly less so. Curzon was at his best in Mozart. His playing is stylish, elegant, and expressive within the context of Mozart's period, without exaggeration or idiosyncrasy. The sound is excellent and has been successfully remastered. The only snag is that no. 26 is split between the two CDs, but since this is the least popular of these concertos anyway this probably won't matter all that much. Highly recommended, and a tremendous bargain at this price (I paid almost this much a few years back just for these recordings of concertos nos. 20 and 27!).

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 20 & 21 - Malcolm Bilson / English Baroque Soloists / John Eliot Gardiner

Average customer rating:

Too faint (keyboard), call for energy...

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 20 & 21 - Malcolm Bilson / English Baroque Soloists / John Eliot Gardiner
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , Malcolm Bilson , English Baroque Soloists , and John Eliot Gardiner
Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 22 & 23 - Malcolm Bilson / English Baroque Soloists / John Eliot Gardiner

ASIN: B0000057CX
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Concerto for pno and orch No.20 in d, K.466: Allegro
Concerto for pno and orch No.20 in d, K.466: Romance
Concerto for pno and orch No.20 in d, K.466: Rondo. Allegro assai
Concerto for pno nad orch No.21 in C, K.467: Allegro
Concerto for pno nad orch No.21 in C, K.467: Andante
Concerto for pno nad orch No.21 in C, K.467: Allegro vivace assai

Customer Reviews:

Too faint (keyboard), call for energy..........2007-01-02

It's sad that this amazing orchestra can't communicate with the piano.

D-moll, Allegro. After explosive intro, rhythm, strings and winds all at top-notch performance, comes the piano solo and drops music low-down. It is scholarly perfect Mozart, but completely out of content: while orchestra in furious tempo successfully deal with unfriendly score, just to bring it to the point of soloist's first word, piano acts anemic, faint and a kind tired. I personally think that it has something to do with pianist's technique, melody line-right hand. I am an horn amateur and dunno much about piano, but my collection of Mozart piano concertos CD's is about the size of public library, so I am about to compare some of the recordings. For instance, Viennese school of Mozart's piano concertos is highly esteemed, Mathias Kirschnereit, Alexandar Majar, are new and fresh while among oldest on the throne are a couple of them: Demus Jorg, Walter Klein.

Now, let's move to the next concerto.

C-Dur, Allegro. Closing the intro oboe, bassoon and flute make one of the finest solo ever heard, but then comes the quiet piano and misses to shape the very important trill solo, just before an orcherstra takes up again. At the second appearance piano is out of conversation and so on, till the very end. Yet oddly enough, Andante somewhat tend to be memorable: they all give their best.

The good thing about the pianist: he wrote amazing cadenzas for both concertos which I highly esteem. As a balance between the brilliant orchestra and mediocre piano, cadenzas tend to make up for everything. So, I certainly recommend this CD for everyone but especially for collectors.
Mirro

Mozart: Piano Concertos nos 10, 19 & 20 / Rabinovitch, Argerich

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Splendid No. 20
Who's Who?
A new way with Mozart
Classic Argerich
Good but not all that needed

Mozart: Piano Concertos nos 10, 19 & 20 / Rabinovitch, Argerich
Alexandre Rabinovitch , Martha Argerich , Orchestra Di Padova E Del Veneto , Wurttembergisches Kammerorchester Heilbronn , and Jorg Faerber
Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00000J9HS
Release Date: 1999-07-06

Tracks:

Concerto No. 20 In D Minor For Piano And Orchestra, K. 466: Allegro
Concerto No. 20 In D Minor For Piano And Orchestra, K. 466: Romance
Concerto No. 20 In D Minor For Piano And Orchestra, K. 466: Allegro assai
Concerto No. 19 In F Major For Piano & Orchestra, K. 459: Allegro
Concerto No. 19 In F Major For Piano & Orchestra, K. 459: Allegretto
Concerto No. 19 In F Major For Piano & Orchestra, K. 459: Allegro assai
Concerto No. 10 In E Flat Major For Two Pianos & Orchestra, K. 365. (316a): Allegro
Concerto No. 10 In E Flat Major For Two Pianos & Orchestra, K. 365. (316a): Andante
Concerto No. 10 In E Flat Major For Two Pianos & Orchestra, K. 365. (316a): Rondeau: Allegro

Amazon.com essential recording

These are glorious performances of three very different piano concerti by Mozart. No. 19 (K. 459) is a handsome showpiece, filled with dramatic turns for the soloist; No. 10 (K. 365) for two pianos is simply lovely; and No. 20 (K. 466) is a deeply felt, intricately woven, brooding, but finally exultant masterpiece. Martha Argerich tears into No. 20's darkness with great fury, abetted by Rabinovitch's tense, turmoil-filled accompaniment; she plays Beethoven's appropriately heavy cadenzas with brilliance, and her headlong blaze into the final movement is breathtaking. Rabinovitch plays and leads No. 19 with charm and virtuosity. And the two pianists zip through K. 365 as if it were a delicious ice-cream sundae, which, frankly, it is. A terrific disc, highly recommended. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

Splendid No. 20.......2005-12-23

Argerich offers a refreshing take on Mozart's D Minor Concerto, one of the composer's most famous among his 27 in this genre. Her articulation is incisive, and the unfolding of the drama free of sentimentality. For those who cannot associate Argerich with Mozart, I would just say that you owe it to yourself to give this CD a try. Some "canon" interpreters can go to the extreme in sculpting the beauty of Mozart so pure and ethereal as to rob away the wider range of emotions embodied in his music; this D Minor Concerto is a good example.

Robinovitch's F Major No. 19 pales in comparison. The first of the two cadenzas in the last movement is truly strange--very uncharacteristic of Mozart--not sure if it was composed by Robinovitch himself. The CD redeems itself with a fine performance of the Concerto for Two Pianos.

Who's Who?.......2000-04-24

Goh Aik Guan's review of this CD is unfortunate as the F major concerto is not played by Argerich - it's Rabinovitch who plays this one, and it's not to my taste either.

A new way with Mozart.......2000-01-21

This disc is most important in the Mozart catalog, despite the dismissive comments from some poorly-informed listeners here. In an age where genteel Mozart dominates, these bold, masculine recordings are a new way of looking at old relics, and quite frankly probably closer to the way Wolfie intended. Over the centuries Mozart has become the man-child in most interpretors' hands (see the chapter "The Myth of the Eternal Child" in Solomon's biography, _Mozart, A Life_) and this recording makes one finally able to imagine the Mozart who had stubble, who was a man and not a boy. The comment that Argerich can scarcely be expected to negotiate this music after her bold "recent" Rachmaninoff 3rd recording should just be ignored: the Rach 3 disc is not recent but from 1983, and she no longer plays the Rach in her repertoire, and it was clearly far from her mind when she made these recordings. (Her style in the two discs bear no more than a superficial relation.) But she does attack all music with force and conviction, and is not for the faint-hearted. She challenges conventions...I thought this is what artists (like Mozart himself) were supposed to do.

Classic Argerich.......1999-12-16

When one listens to Argerich, one must expect the extraordinary. Not for her is the run of the mill performance which conventional wisdom associates with the "correct" style. She is here to offer gems of ideas of how a composer's work can be intepreted. Her rendition of the D minor Concerto is classic Argerich. Her tone colour (eg.with brlliant use of the una corda), "fantasique" use of rubato and how she makes the music soar make one realise how exciting Mozart music can be. I would rank her D minor rendition with Clara Haskil's (listen to how she ends her cadenza in the 1st movt; the almost unbearable tension and well-gradated crescendo; ditto for Haskil). Different in their own ways, but similar in how they each imprint their individualism in the work. My only problem was with the 1st movt of the F maj. The approach is affected, and I cannot quite understand some of the things she does (eg. tempo rubato at some points) which seem to be idiosyncracies. Her approach seems to be too robust for something so dainty. I would go for Alicia De Larocha's 1st movt for her transparency and simplicity. But Argerich's 2nd movt and 3rd are classic, esp her statement of the 1st subject of the 3rd movt after the first "small" cadenza: the deliberateness in which she reiterates the theme after that, seems almost as if she has not got over her musing in the cadenza. Strongly recommended for students and music lover who want something that goes beyond the jaded renditions of Mozart, and of course for Argerich fans, which I count myself as one.

Good but not all that needed.......1999-07-10

With a market already overladen with Mozart Piano Concerti, any new arrival had best offer something extraordinarily novel. After her fairly recent smash-bang performance of Rachmaninoff's Third, Martha Argerich would hardly be expected to negotiate the delicate balances demanded by Mozart. Her latest Teldec offering of Mozart's (4509 98407-2) with co-pianist Alexandre Rabinovich and the Wurtembergisches Kammerorchester Heilbronn under Jorg Faerber gives us some splendid playing here, some interesting sounds there, but I cannot see this replacing some of the older recordings of these same pieces. On the other hand, if one does not already have these pieces in the collection, then by all means give this one a chance. I think you will especially like the No. 10 in E flat for two pianos and orchestra.

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